Memories of a Life Long Passed

(AN: Translations- Gomen- Sorry Oh, and I couldn’t remember how to spell Kuwabara’s cat’s name. Thanks for at least giving me clue how to spell it, Keaira.)

Chapter 9

Past Life




The kitsune’s head jerked up, his eyes growing steely that also held hints of gold. All that Kurama really had heard was the name Hiei had mumbled, but it was enough to grab the youko’s attention. “How do you know that name?”



Hiei straightened his back at the menacing expression on Kurama’s face. All the time he’d spent around Kurama, and he’d only seen that look from the red head once. It was when he was fighting Karasu, and he was the silver haired youko. “What?” Subconsciously he put one hand on his sword, sensing the rising youki coming from Kurama.



“Kuronue, how do you know who Kuronue is?”



“I...” Hiei paused, not sure of what to say. Sharing something so personal wasn’t something he was used to. Looking into Kurama’s eyes, he decided against brushing it off. Trust wasn’t something he gave to people normally, but Kurama was one of the few he trusted his life with. Sharing a few dreams wouldn’t be too horrible. “I’ve been having dreams of someone named Kuronue... And you. The way you used to be.”



Kurama took a few steps back and sat down heavily on to his bed. “How could you... Hm.” It was possible that Hiei wasn’t used to being in such close quarters with someone else, and was picking up on Kurama’s dreams or thoughts. He hadn’t thought or dreamt of Kuronue since that last time, which was before they started... spending more time together. “Strange... I wonder why. What exactly have you dreamed of?” The slight crimson rising Hiei’s cheeks said it all. The kitsune chuckled, “yes we did do a lot of that... For a few years at a time it was even a, at the very least, daily event....” Kurama coughed and cleared his throat, dragging his thoughts away from pleasant memories.



“That doesn’t answer why I’m having these dreams or the vision I just saw...”



“How old are you?” The kitsune asked politely, but Hiei knew the sly look on the fox’s face too well.



“Why?”



“Just answer the question please.”



“Feh... Twenty-four.”



“Hmm... Just a child among the koorime... Gomen, Hiei. I meant no offense.” The short demon glared darkly at Kurama. Hiei hated being referred to as a koorime, though Kurama had no idea why. “It would make sense then. Though, the odds of this happening are very slim.”



Hiei eyed Kurama warily. “Odds of what happening?”



“You might very well be Kuronue.” The youko paused so Hiei had time to absorb what was just said. “It makes sense though. Eight years before I came to the human world, Kuronue died. It was... early spring when he died. Do you know when you were born?”



“No... Anyone that would know that is either someone I’d never speak to, or dead.”



“Shame... That little piece of information would have been helpful.”



“Hn.” Kuronue in a former life... Kurama was right, the odds of them meeting again were very slim. Only the most powerful demons could track souls. “There’s a slight possibility, I guess. It’s odd that these memories would surface now.”



“Maybe it’s because you’re around me a lot more now.”



“That may be... It did get worse when we began sleeping with each other. Oh, and for your information, Yusuke knows about us.” The jaganshi sighed, leaning his back against the cool window.



Kurama stood up, sitting on the other side of the window sill.“I figured as much. Since it was early in the morning, I was hoping he would be a little slower to pick up on such things.” The red head stretched his legs out, draping them across Hiei. “While discretion isn’t his strong point, we can trust him to keep this quiet.”



The fire demon snorted, laying his arms across Kurama’s legs. “He thinks we make a cute couple.”



“We do,” the kitsune laughed as Hiei gave him a strange look. “What? There are different types of couples.” He leaned forward to kiss Hiei’s shoulder. “Don’t read too much into it.”



“I’m not worried about it...” Gently lifting Kurama’s leg so that it was bent at the knee, he scooted forward a little and slid the leg behind him. “As you were saying earlier, we do have some spare time...” He grabbed the front of Kurama’s shirt and dragged the kitsune so he was pressed against his body.



“Mmm...”

~oOo~



“Wonder why they’re so late.” Kuwabara grumbled for the fourth time. It was only fifteen minutes past the time Kurama and Hiei were supposed to meet up with the others, but the taller man acted as if it were hours.



“Will you stop pacing?”>br>


“I can’t help it! I’m just anxious to get on with this stupid mission.”



Yusuke rolled his eyes. “Dunno why you’re coming with us. If you’ve lost your spirit awareness, then you’re a liability.”



“I can still do stuff!”



“Such as?”



“I... er... I can... Shut up, there’s stuff! I just can’t think of it at the moment...”



“Riiiight... Well hey,” Yusuke looked up to see Kurama and Hiei walking towards the two spirit detectives. “Glad to see you guys could make it.” Kuwabara grumbled to himself while kicking at the dirt. “What’s the matter Kuwabara, wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”



“Any time I wake up from a nice dream to your lousy face-“



“I hate to end your lovers spat, but could we go now?” Hiei said blandly while walking past the two spirit detectives. “I’ve spent more than enough time with you idiots already, I don’t care to add on to it.”



Kuwabara clenched his fists, “you were the one that made us wait! I don’t see anything you could be doing that’s more important than being on time.”



The two demons paused, waiting for Yusuke’s smart ass remark or snicker. The brown eyed spirit detective sighed, “I’m sure it’s none of our business, Kuwabara. Let’s go.” Kurama smiled, winking at Hiei.

~oOo~



A screen lit behind the spirit detectives showing a gold bracelet. The gold had been worked to look like two winged rams about to butt heads. The amount of detail put into the bracelet was amazing, small jewels littered it’s surface to accent the wings as well as the muscles on the lower half of the animals, the chest had five rows of turquoise line perfectly with each other. Rubies were placed for the eyes, and two greenish blue jewels were used to make up the cheeks. On each forehead and a spot a little higher than that were two blue stones.



“I’ll make this short folks. Last night a band of demons broke into one of my father’s hidden vaults, one used for items of importance that wouldn’t directly bring about the end of the Ningenkai. This little piece of jewelry isn’t an immediate danger but could make a demon, under the right conditions, much stronger than Toguro ever dreamed of being. It also allows the wearer build on that power every time the ritual is completed, in a month those demons could be four times as powerful as Toguro and still able to wander freely about the worlds.



“At the time of the break in, the demons that stole the bracelet should be a piece of cake for you to beat. That’ll all change as soon as the ritual ends, so you can understand the urgency in bringing it back. Just so we’re clear, you’ve got a week to find it and bring it back here. Good luck.” Koenma turned off the screen and sat back in his chair, his way of dismissing them.



“So just how are we supposed to find this thing anyway?” Kuwabara scratched the side of his head. The little godling stayed quiet, not quite looking at anyone in the room.



“Great...” Yusuke turned to the door and strode out. “Thanks a lot for your help Koenma...”



“If I knew where the bracelet was, I would have already gotten it back by now. Finding it is your job, detective.” The little godling lightly accented the last word, trying to remind Yusuke of his title.



“Yeah yeah...” Yusuke waved as he turned the corner. Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara followed, Kuwabara waving a little has he left.

~oOo~



“Gaaah! This is so frustrating!” Kuwabara fell back onto his bed, almost spilling the soda he apparently forgot he was holding.



Hiei raised an eyebrow, turning to the kitsune. “What about you? Think you could use some of those old information lines and figure out where it went?”



“No... All the Makai has the same opinion of me by now. They saw me fighting on the human team, now I’m considered a traitor. Much as you are.” Kurama sighed then took a sip of his tea. It wasn’t something he regretted or had any control over. The Idunn box returned him momentarily to who he used to be, for all the audience to see. Being called a traitor from the place you once called home, now that irked the red head.



Yusuke threw a piece of paper he had found crumpled up on the floor into the trash can, hitting the rim and bouncing it off. “Damn...”



Kuwabara’s bedroom door opened. “Here.” Shizuru put down a tray of snacks on Kuwabara’s bed then took a drag off of her cigarette. “Don’t think too hard lil bro. I can already see the steam coming out of your ears...” She smirked and left, closing the door behind her.



“I swear.... I hate having a sister!” Kuwabara yelled as he tossed a balled up sock at the door. His cat mewed cutely and rubbed against him, having snuck in when Shizuru opened the door. “Awww...”

“Look Kurama, a real snack.” Hiei timed that perfectly, just as Kurama was taking another sip of his tea. The red head laughed mid-sip, sending the liquid down the wrong path. He coughed, covering his mouth, as he tried to regain his breath. Hiei chuckled quietly as he watched the kitsune. Yusuke laughed and patted Kurama’s back.



“Eikichi is NOT a snack!” Kuwabara pulled the cat to his chest, glaring at the two demons.



Kurama held up his hands. “No, it was just a joke.” The poor red head’s voice was still garbled by the occasional cough. He glanced over at Hiei, who had suddenly went quiet. Sitting up, he grabbed the jaganshi’s shoulder. “Hiei?” The dazed demon’s eyes glazed over, his youki dipping and raising randomly.

~oOo~



“So we can find anything we want with this thing?” Kuronue twirled the head band around one finger, not flinching as Kurama snatched it away.



“Be a little more careful, Kuro. The false jagan is set up to find treasure, while the real one can find people. Well, it can do other things, or so I’m told, but I never paid attention that long to find out exactly.” The silver youko put the headband on, ignoring Kuronue’s snickering. “AH! Got one. Rare item from the human world, a book... I believe the maker used real skin for the cover, and blood for the ink. Hmmm, care to find out if that’s all true?” Kurama smiled and turned to his partner.



Kuronue sighed, “it’s almost too easy though. Where’s the challenge?” The dark haired demon grabbed his pack and tossed it over his shoulder.



“This thing is entirely too much fun to just ignore. Although, it does put a slight damper on some of the fun aspects of looting. We’ll use it for a few hits, and then we’ll retire it for a while... ok?”



The winged demon smirked and nodded. “Fine with me. Let’s go.”

~oOo~



Hiei came out of his it slowly, his mind still trying to make sense of what he just saw. The room was unfamiliar, being used to Kurama’s, until he concentrated on shoving the memories away and remembering where he was at the moment. He was still in Kuwabara’s room, but now he was laying on the bed with the kitsune sitting next to him. No one else was in the room and the door was shut. The jaganshi groaned as he sat up, glaring at Kurama.



The red head brushed off Hiei’s normal dirty looks at having someone see him in a weakened state, and put an arm lightly across Hiei’s shoulders, keeping the shorter demon sitting up with out having Hiei exert any effort. “Are you alright?”



“...Yeah.”



“Good. Everyone else went out to eat, they said they’d bring us something back. Unless you’d like to eat something now?”



“No.”



“What...” Kurama chewed on his bottom lip, looking away from the fire demon. “What did you see?”


“You. That’s all the memories are of... Kurama,” Hiei turned the kitsune’s head back toward his own, “do you remember the false jagan?” Pain lit Kurama’s eyes as he nodded, keeping his gaze on the bed. The fire demon blinked, not used to seeing Kurama act that way. He decided to ask what was bothering him as soon as the kitsune answered the questions he had currently in mind. “Do you know where it is?”



“I...”